Understanding Latency 3.0, a conference focused on network latency, has started its second day. There’s still time to join the rest of day two and day three.
https://understandinglatency.com
I’ve posted a few bits related to the conference.
One of the many interesting properties of BlueSky that is enabled by the open AT Protocol is the ability for anyone to create custom feeds.
Imagine being able to choose or build the algorithm that drives your X or LinkedIn post feed. That’s what this is!
To experiment with custom feeds, I’ve built the Network Nook.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been adjusting the ‘algorithm’, which currently consists of terms with scores that match the post content and tags. After a few fun mistakes (giving ‘isis’ a high score doesn’t work so well) the signal to noise ratio is now to a point that I find the feed interesting and useful.
For those not familiar with BlueSky, it may surprise you to learn that custom feeds like the Network Nook are first class citizens in the app. Just go to the feed section and search.
For the details on how custom feeds work and sample code go to the AT Protocol website but here’s the TL;DR:
The service that provides Network Nook lives on my VM but feels every bit as core to BlueSky as the main Following and Discover feeds.
I started down this path building everything from scratch. It’s surprisingly simple but part way in I found Supercell. With Supercell’s embedded RHAI scripts I’ve been able to do what I’ve needed so far.
There are also several no-code ways to create feeds:
And probably more… there’s a lot of innovation happening in the AT Protocol ecosystem.
Next I want to add multi-term matches and something like the test tube icon the Science Feed uses to enable users to target the feed.
Between the pure timeline-based “Following” feed, much more transparency by being built on an open foundation and choice enabled by features like custom feeds, it feels like BlueSky has the foundation to be a better, and less easily abused [1] social network.
Semi-related, Character Limit is a great read. Definitely worth your time.
[1] – Seriously, who wouldn’t feel bad cheating like that?
I’ve been exploring AT Protocol and BlueSky a bunch lately and while I agree with his goals, I think Doctorow may be wrong about BlueSky because of the AT Protocol.
https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/02/ulysses-pact/#tie-yourself-to-a-federated-mast
BlueSky feels more like a popular RSS reader on top of the AT Protocol than it is a platform that’s easy to create lock-in.
One example is ads, if they were to try push too far with ads, it would be easy for another client to rise up with fewer or better ads. This should set up the right incentives.
Also, I think he’s wrong on the not-federated comment. The AT Protocol architecture is sliced differently than Mastadon but it is already possible to self host (a PDS) or run a relay. It doesn’t *feel* like federation because that’s not nearly as visible as it is in other architectures.
I’m still trying to get my head around how BlueSky will make money but I have to think that once it reaches significant size, there have to be non-enshittification ways to monetize a large ecosystem. There’s also a ‘new identity’ thing going on that I haven’t got my head around yet.
I do hope they only develop paid features that add value and have a cost deliver though.
In addition, we will begin developing a subscription model for features like higher quality video uploads or profile customizations like colors and avatar frames. (https://bsky.social/about/blog/10-24-2024-series-a)
Higher quality video uploads has a cost and it’s fair to charge for the value. As would more PDS storage or features that businesses require like deeper analytics. Profile customizations have no inherit cost to deliver and just leverage their control of the client for minor extortion. I’m not sure if that fits Doctorow’s definition of enshittification or not.
Last thought, a lot of people made good businesses out of web hosting. Will someone make a good business out of PDS or relay hosting? Or high value labelers?
Interesting idea, AF_XDP as a channel to TCP offload. If I understand this properly, the number of applications using this would be limited to the number of hardware queues the NIC has and a single AF_XDP socket to the application may be a bottleneck.
https://www.sipanda.io/post/episode-iv-a-new-hope-for-tcp-offload-that-is
Over on the Preseem blog I posted a bit of fiber data analysis comparing signal strength vs fiber length for Calix, Adtran and Ubiquiti.
We have a lot of data, just need more time to explore it.
https://preseem.com/2024/09/ont-receive-power-fiber-length
